Woman allegedly ‘stalked’ by attacker prior to daylight stabbing, AVO in place

A woman stabbed in the throat with a kitchen knife outside a gym was allegedly “stalked” by her alleged attacker and took out an AVO against him weeks before the ambush.

A woman who was stabbed in the throat with a kitchen knife outside a Sydney gym was allegedly “stalked” by her attacker after cutting off contact with him, taking out an apprehended violence order against him days before the daylight ambush.

Police will allege the 39-year-old woman, whose name The Daily Telegraph has chosen not to publish, was attacked by Anthony Monteleone outside the Crunch Fitness gym in Alexandria on Wednesday afternoon.

Monteleone, a North Manly local, allegedly waited outside the gym and lunged at the woman as she walked through the carpark before fleeing the scene.

On Thursday morning he handed himself in to officers at Dee Why Police Station.

The 45-year-old has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, and breaching a domestic violence AVO.

Police arrest Anthony Monteleone, who is alleged to have stabbed a women outside an Alexandria Gym. Picture: NSW Police

The woman was attacked in the car park of the Crunch Fitness gym in Alexandria on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Nikki Short

The victim was on Thursday recovering in hospital with “non-life-threatening injuries”.

A source close to the victim revealed she was allegedly “followed” by Monteleone after she cut off communication with him last month.

Speaking of when the pair first met, the source told The Daily Telegraph that Monteleone “approached her and started talking to her.

“They were not talking for that long. A short time.

“They were not in a relationship,” the source said.

After multiple conversations both in person and over the phone, the woman allegedly noticed worrying signs about Monteleone’s behaviour.

Witnesses recounted hearing the woman scream during the attack. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Police will allege Manly local Monteleone waited in the car park of the gym. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

‘RED FLAGS’

“She noticed a few red flags,” the source said.

“Once she cut him off, there was some sort of stalking and numerous phone calls.”

“She blocked him and that’s when he started following her.”

The source said the victim was “OK” but felt “scared” following the attack.

It is understood she had alerted police to Monteleone’s alleged “stalking” behaviour before she was attacked, and took out an AVO against Monteleone, which was granted on April 20.

The order banned Monteleone from contacting, finding, assaulting, stalking, harassing or intimidating the woman, or destroying her property. It also prevented him from going within 100m of her home or place of work.

Monteleone breached the AVO twice in the next fourteen days, and was refused bail on April 29 after pleading guilty.

He avoided jail and was handed an 18 month intensive correction order, and allegedly stabbed the same woman less than two weeks later.

Anthony Monteleone handed himself into police on Thursday morning.

Premier Chris Minns says changes to NSW domestic violence bail laws will be introduced to parliament next week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The woman’s ordeal comes a day after the NSW government announced a raft of new powers to tackle knife crime and amid a spate of horror domestic violence incidents.

Detective Superintendent Rodney Hart described the incident as “horrendous”.

“We are taking this matter extremely seriously. I’m grateful the victim, at this stage, is going to be OK,” Det-Supt Hart said.

Premier Chris Minns said changes to NSW domestic violence bail laws would be introduced to parliament next week.

While the Premier said the government was looking into changing the way AVOs were monitored following the attack in Alexandria, the new reform is unlikely to include provisions for electronic ankle monitoring bracelets.

NSW Opposition Police spokesperson Paul Toole said there needed to be more monitoring undertaken when it came to AVOs.

“Without a doubt there needs to be greater oversight and greater monitoring put in place of these predators,” he said.

“It just shows you the judicial system is failing the victims of crime in this state. The public expects the courts to do their job and not let these predators on the street time after time.

“The judges seem to think hitting the perpetrators with a wet lettuce leaf is enough. It’s a joke.”

NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman agreed how AVOs are monitored should be reviewed.

“In light of the recent tragedies the government should look at how the AVOs are being monitored, and importantly Chris Minns needs to urgently get on board with the electronic monitoring of bailed serious domestic violence offenders – the time to act is now,” he said.

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